Essential Skincare for Your Fifties, Part II

In part one, I discussed the prevention of photo-aging, lines and wrinkles, as well as the slowing down of the formation of lines and wrinkles with botulinum treatments. In this part, I’ll discuss the importance of exfoliation and then aggressive filler and laser treatments that correct… or just improve… more advanced lines, wrinkles and other facial contours.

So first, exfoliation… In your 50s, it’s not only to correct age and sun related texture problems like dull, flaky, large pored skin… Nor is it only to correct sun induced discolorations, whether they’re blotchy brown areas or sharply bordered tan and brown age spots… You see, even more importantly, in your fifties, exfoliation also serves to remove the early, sun induced abnormal surface cells that can become precancerous growths and then actual skin cancers. So exfoliate daily.

Next, fillers and lasers can be used for aggressive treatment and correction, or sometimes just improvement, of lines, wrinkles and other unwanted contours caused by a loss of normal tissues. Let me show you where.

First, in the dermis or middle layer of skin, there is a loss of collagen, elastic fibers, and the semi liquid sugar protein matrix that all the normal skin elements are suspended in. Their loss causes most lines and wrinkles.

And second, the loss of fat in the 3rd or bottom layer of skin causes deeper folds, creases and troughs. Fat loss in the face is strictly age related and unavoidable.

And yes, I agree… It’s not fair that as you get older, you lose fat where you want it and get more where you don’t!

But on a brighter note! ... To correct these contour issues, fillers literally fill up and restore the volume that you lost in both layers of your skin, but as these contour defects become deeper and wider, more filler and more frequent filler treatments are necessary. So at a certain point, the lines can be so numerous that it’s just not realistic or practical to try to inject filler into every one. Then it’s time for laser treatments that cause your skin to rebuild your own collagen. The lasers can also tighten stretched skin, which also improves or eliminates many lines and wrinkles.

Just remember, these laser procedures should be performed by a cosmetic dermatologist who specializes in cosmetic laser treatments.

So there you have it for part two, and in the final part of skincare for the 50s, I’ll tell you when deeper skin tightening and finally surgery are needed and what they can do for you.

In the first part of essential skincare for your fifties, Dr. Schultz discussed the prevention of photo-aging, lines and wrinkles, as well as the slowing down of the formation of lines and wrinkles with botulinum treatments. In this second part of the series, he'll share with you the importance of exfoliation and then discuss aggressive filler and laser treatments that correct or just improve more advanced lines, wrinkles and other facial contours.